System, method and graphical user interface for identifying image from remote site during screen sharing

ABSTRACT

A distributed computer network includes at least two computers. Each of the at least two computers runs an application sharing program to enable an image generated by one computer to be displayed by at least one other computer. At least one of the at least two computers executes an image modifying routine to alter the appearance of an image generated by the one computer prior to display on the at least one other computer. In this manner, a user of the at least one other computer can tell at a glance if an image being presented is an image that has been received from the one computer or is its own desktop graphical user interface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to image sharing among different computers and in particular to a method and system for displaying graphical information from a host computer on at least one remote computer in such a manner that it is evident on the remote computer that the image is from the host computer. The present invention also relates to a desktop graphical user interface image that identifies to a viewer when it is an image that has been received from a host computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Networked computer systems including computers executing application sharing programs to permit the computers to share displayed information are widely known and used. In these computer systems, one computer (the host computer) transmits images of its desktop to a plurality of remote computers using such an application sharing program. The remote computers may use a variety of strategies to display the host computer desktop images depending on the operating environments of the remote computers.

[0003] Windows is a well-known operating environment for computers. In this operating environment, information to be presented to a user is displayed by a desktop graphical user interface in one or more windows. In computer systems that share displayed information and operate in the Windows environment, when images of the host computer desktop are transmitted to the remote computers, each remote computer displays the host computer desktop image within a window. Unfortunately, displaying the host desktop image in this manner can be problematic. If the host computer and the remote computers are running at the same display resolution, there generally will not be enough space in the windows to show the entire host computer desktop images due to the space taken by the borders of the windows.

[0004] To overcome this problem, a number of solutions have been proposed. One solution has been to scale the host computer desktop images prior to display in the windows. Unfortunately, this solution has proven to be unsatisfactory, because it results in loss of image data and decreased resolution. Another solution has been to provide the windows with scroll bars to allow users to view the entire host computer desktop images while maintaining image resolution. Although the entire host computer desktop images are available for viewing, only sections of the host computer desktop images can viewed at one time. In interactive environments, not being able to see the entire host computer desktop images is unacceptable. Yet another solution has been to display the host computer desktop images over the full screens of the remote computers. In this scenario, no space is required for the borders of windows and so display resolution issues are solved. Unfortunately, this scenario can be very confusing for users due to the fact that the host computer desktop images may look very similar, or even identical, to the desktop graphical user interfaces of the remote computers. This can make it very difficult for a user to tell at a glance if they are looking at their desktop graphical user interface or a host computer desktop image.

[0005] As will be appreciated, improvements in graphical user interfaces in environments where computers share displayed information, are desired. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and system for displaying shared image from a host computer on at least one remote computer in such a manner that it is evident on the remote computer that the image is from the host computer. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel desktop graphical user interface image that identifies to a viewer when it is an image that has been received from a host computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided in a distributed computer network where displayed information is shared between at least two computers, a method of displaying shared images comprising the steps of:

[0007] identifying at least one selected portion of an image generated by one computer that is to be shared with at least one other computer; and

[0008] visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one other computer displays the image full screen and the at least one selected portion of the image includes a task bar. It is also preferred that the at least one selected portion of the image further includes windows within the image and scroll bars. In a preferred embodiment, the modifying includes placing hatching over the at least one selected portion. Optionally, when the at least one selected portion is the task bar, hatching is not applied to it when the task bar is active.

[0010] In one embodiment, the modifying is performed prior to transmission of the image from the one computer to the at least one other computer. In another embodiment, the modifying is performed after transmission of the image from the one computer to the at least one other computer.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers running an application sharing program to enable an image generated by one computer to be displayed by at least one other computer, at least one of said at least two computers executing an image modifying routine to alter the appearance of an image generated by said one computer prior to display on said at least one other computer.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium including computer program code for modifying an image generated by one computer prior to display on at least one other computer, said computer program code including:

[0013] computer program code for identifying at least one selected portion of said image; and

[0014] computer program code for visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.

[0015] According to still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers operating in a Windows environment and running an application sharing program to enable a desktop image generated by a host computer to be displayed full screen by at least one guest computer, one of said host computer and at least one guest computer executing an image modifying routine to modify the host computer desktop image prior to display on said at least one guest computer while maintaining generally the overall presentation of the host computer desktop image.

[0016] According to still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a desktop graphical user interface image displayed full screen on a computer monitor including:

[0017] at least one of a task bar, a scroll bar and a window; and

[0018] a pattern over said at least one of said task bar, scroll bar and window.

[0019] The present invention provides advantages in that shared images transmitted from a host computer to one or more guest computers are modified before being displayed by the guest computers. In this manner, users of the guest computers can tell at a glance if the images being presented are images that have been received from the host computer. Since only selected portions of the host computer images are modified, the modifications to the host computer images do not substantially distract from the overall presentation of the host computer images.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a computer network including a plurality of personal computers, the personal computers running application sharing programs and sharing displayed information;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the steps performed by a host computer during execution of an image modifying routine;

[0023]FIGS. 3a to 3 c are screen shots showing a host computer desktop image before being modified by the image modifying routine, after having been modified by the image modifying routine, and as presented by a guest computer after having been modified by the image modifying routine;

[0024]FIGS. 4a and 4 b are screen shots showing a host computer desktop image before being modified by the image modifying routine and as presented by a guest computer after having been modified by the image modifying routine;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a screen shot showing the host computer desktop image of FIG. 3a after having been modified by an alternative embodiment of the image modifying routine; and

[0026]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the steps performed by a host computer during execution of an alternative image modifying routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Turning now to FIG. 1, a distributed computer network is shown and is generally identified by reference numeral 10. As can be seen, computer network 10 includes a local area network 12 including a plurality of interconnected personal computers 14 at different physical locations. Personal computers 14 in the local area network 12 communicate with each other and with personal computers 16 located at different geographical locations over a distributed network 18 such as the Internet.

[0028] Each of the personal computers 14 and 16 operates in a Windows environment and includes a desktop graphical user interface. The desktop allows information to be presented to a user in windows. Each personal computer runs an application sharing program that permits the personal computers 14 and 16 to share displayed information. In this particular example, the personal computers 14 and 16 run SMART Conference Software. As is well known, this application sharing program allows a meeting to be set up between personal computers with one personal computer being designated as a host computer and the remaining personal computers being designated as guest computers. Images of the host computer desktop are transmitted to the guest computers in the meeting and are displayed on the monitors of the guest computers full screen.

[0029] To avoid user confusion when a guest computer is displaying an image of the host computer desktop, the host computer executes an imaging modifying routine that modifies selected portions of the host computer desktop image prior to transmission to the guest computers for display. In this manner a user of a guest computer can tell at a glance if the image being presented, is its local desktop graphical user interface or an image of the host computer desktop.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the imaging modifying routine identifies the Windows task bar, and windows related to the application sharing program. Any of these elements that are visible in the host computer desktop image are overlaid with a hatched pattern. The name of the host computer is also placed in the center of the Windows task bar as well as over the windows related to the application sharing program. By modifying the host computer desktop image in this manner, visible cues are provided to users of the guest computers to signify that the displayed images are images of the host computer desktop without substantially distracting from the overall presentation of the host computer desktop images.

[0031] The manner by which the imaging modifying routine modifies the host computer desktop images will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 2. When a host computer desktop image is to be transmitted to a guest computer, the imaging modifying routine captures the host computer desktop image into a bitmap (step 50). Visible portions of the Windows task bar are then located within the bitmap image and these portions are visually modified (step 52). In this particular embodiment, the task bar portions are visually modified by applying hatching over them although any other suitable visual modification can be used. The center of the Windows task bar is then labeled to identify it as the host computer's task bar (step 54).

[0032] The bitmap image is then examined to determine if it includes any windows related to the application sharing program (step 62). If the bitmap image includes any such windows, a hatched pattern is drawn over these windows and the windows are labeled to identify them as the host computer's windows (step 64). During step 64, the image modifying routine sends a query to the operating system for information relating to any windows that overlay a window to be hatched. The rectangular overlapping regions are determined and are subtracted from the rectangle of the window being hatched. With these steps performed, the bitmap image of the host computer desktop is released to the application sharing program so that it may be transmitted to the guest computer (step 66).

[0033] Appendix A shows pseudo-code of the image modifying routine.

[0034]FIG. 3a shows an example of a host computer desktop image 70 prior to be modified by the image modifying routine. FIG. 3b shows the host computer desktop image as modified by the image modifying routine. As can be seen, the Windows task bar 72 has been hatched and is labelled to identify it as the host computer's task bar. The tool window 74 is also hatched and is labelled to identify it as the host computer's tools. FIG. 3c shows the modified host computer desktop image as displayed by the guest computer. As will be appreciated, without the visual modifications to the host computer desktop image 70, it is very difficult to distinguish between the desktop graphical user interface of the guest computer and the host computer desktop image.

[0035]FIG. 4a shows another example of a host computer desktop image 80 prior to be modified by the image modifying routine. In this example, the host computer desktop image is a Powerpoint image. FIG. 4b shows the Powerpoint image 80 as displayed by the guest computer after having been modified by the image modifying routine. As can be seen, the tool window 82 is hatched and is labelled to identify it as the host computer's tools.

[0036] Although the image modifying routine has been described as modifying the Windows task bar and windows relating to the application sharing program, those of skill in the art will appreciate that a subset of these image sections may be modified. For example, FIG. 5 shows the host computer desktop image 70′ of FIG. 3a as modified by the image modifying routine. As can be seen, in this embodiment only the Windows task bar has been hatched and labelled to identify it as the host computer's task bar. The tool window 74′ remains unhatched.

[0037] Alternatively additional or different image features of the host computer desktop image may be modified by the image modifying application. For example, FIG. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating additional steps performed by the image modifying routine. In this embodiment, after the task bar has been labeled, the current active window of the host computer is located and its size is examined (step 56). If the current active window is greater than 75% of the host computer screen, the bitmap image is examined to determine if the image includes vertical and/or horizontal scroll bars (step 58). If the bitmap image includes vertical and/or horizontal scroll bars, a hatched pattern is drawn over the vertical and/or horizontal scroll bars (step 60).

[0038] At step 56, if the current active window is less than 75% of the host computer screen, the image modifying routine proceeds directly to step 62 to determine if the host computer desktop image includes any windows. Also, at step 58, if the bitmap image does not include any vertical and/or horizontal scroll bars, the image modifying routine proceeds to step 62 to determine if the host computer desktop image includes any windows related to the application sharing program.

[0039] If desired, the image modifying routine can be configured to hatch and label the task bar only when the task bar is not active. In this manner, if the task bar is the focus of attention and is active, users of guest computers are not distracted by the hatching.

[0040] In addition, although the image modifying routine is described as being executed by the host computer with the host computer desktop images being modified prior to transmission to the guest computers, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the guest computers may execute the image modifying routine. In this case, the host computer desktop images and the regions of all of the relevant windows therein are transmitted by the host computer unmodified. When the host computer desktop images and window regions are received by the guest computers, they are modified by the image modifying routines prior to being presented.

[0041] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the computer network of FIG. 1 is shown for illustrative purposes only. The computer network may take virtually any form where two or more computers run an application sharing program and share displayed information.

[0042] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a distributed computer network where displayed information is shared between at least two computers, a method of displaying shared images comprising the steps of: identifying at least one selected portion of an image generated by one computer that is to be shared with at least one other computer; and visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one other computer displays said image full screen.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one selected portion of said image includes a task bar.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said scroll bars are modified when said scroll bars extend across more than 75% of said full screen.
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes windows within said image.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said scroll bars are modified when said scroll bars extend across more than 75% of said full screen.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying includes hatching said at least one selected portion.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said at least one selected portion.
 11. The method of claim 3 wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said task bar.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said Windows task bar.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said hatching is not applied if said task bar is active on said one computer.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes scroll bars, and wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said scroll bars.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one selected portion further includes windows within said image, and wherein said modifying includes applying hatching over said windows.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said modifying further includes labeling said windows.
 17. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying is performed prior to transmission of said image from said one computer to said at least one other computer.
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying is performed after transmission of said image from said one computer to said at least one other computer.
 19. A distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers running an application sharing program to enable an image generated by one computer to be displayed by at least one other computer, at least one of said at least two computers executing an image modifying routine to alter the appearance of an image generated by said one computer prior to display on said at least one other computer.
 20. A distributed computer network according to claim 19 wherein said image modifying routine visually modifies at least one selected portion of said image.
 21. A distributed computer network according to claim 20 wherein said at least one selected portion is selected from the group comprising a task bar, scroll bars and tool windows.
 22. A distributed computer network according to claim 21 wherein said image modifying routine applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.
 23. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine further applies a label when said at least one selected portion is a task bar or a window.
 24. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said hatching is not applied when said at least one selected portion is a task bar and said task bar is active.
 25. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said one computer, said image being modified prior to transmission to said at least one other computer.
 26. A distributed computer network according to claim 22 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said at least one other computer, said image being modified after transmission by said one computer.
 27. A computer readable medium including computer program code for modifying an image generated by one computer prior to display on at least one other computer, said computer program code including: computer program code for identifying at least one selected portion of said image; and computer program code for visually modifying the at least one selected portion of said image prior to said image being displayed by said at least one other computer.
 28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein said computer program code for identifying identifies at least one of a task bar, scroll bars and windows in said image.
 29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein said computer program code for identifying identifies all of said task bar, scroll bars and tool windows in said image.
 30. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein said computer program code for modifying applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.
 31. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said computer program code for modifying applies labeling to said at least one selected portion when said at least one selected portion is said task bar or a window.
 32. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said hatching is not applied when said at least one selected portion is a task bar and said task bar is active.
 33. A distributed computer network including at least two computers, each of said at least two computers operating in a Windows environment and running an application sharing program to enable a desktop image generated by a host computer to be displayed full screen by at least one guest computer, one of said host computer and at least one guest computer executing an image modifying routine to modify the host computer desktop image prior to display on said at least one guest computer while maintaining generally the overall presentation of the host computer desktop image.
 34. A distributed computer network according to claim 33 wherein said image modifying routine modifies at least one selected portion of said host computer desktop image, said at least one selected portion being selected from the group comprising a task bar, scroll bars and windows within said host computer desktop image.
 35. A distributed computer network according to claim 34 wherein said image modifying routine applies hatching to said at least one selected portion.
 36. A distributed computer network according to claim 35 wherein said image modifying routine further applies a label when said at least one selected portion is a task bar or tool window.
 37. A distributed computer network according to claim 36 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said host computer, said host computer desktop image being modified prior to transmission to said at least one guest computer.
 38. A distributed computer network according to claim 36 wherein said image modifying routine is executed by said at least one guest computer, said host computer desktop image being modified after transmission by said host computer.
 39. A distributed computer network according to claim 34 wherein when said at least one selected portion is said task bar, said task bar is not modified if active.
 40. A desktop graphical user interface image displayed full screen on a computer monitor including: at least one of a task bar, a scroll bar and a window; and a pattern over said at least one of said task bar, scroll bar and window. 